LESSON 4: Science and Technology and Nation Building

Objectives:
a. identify the contributions of filipino scientist in science and technology;
b. enumerate critical points in the history of science and technology in the
philippine and how these developments affected society and environment;
and
c. explain the role of science and technology in nation building

● Science and technology in the Philippines had its beginnings during the
pre-colonial times:
○ To facilitate trading, Filipinos made use of writing, numerical,
measurement and calendar systems.
○ Farming, fishing, mining and weaving were the first livelihood skills
developed by filipinos.
○ In some cases, the techniques Filipinos develop for livelihood
purposes resulted in majestic architectural designs that managed to
attract worldwide attention like the Banaue rice terraces of ifugao.

● During the Spanish colonial period:

○ science and technology developed through the establishment of formal
education institutions and the launching of scientific organizations.
○ Schools were mandated to teach religion, mathematics, reading and
writing, music and arts and health and sanitation.
○ Medicine in biology was taught in different educational and training
institutions.
○ Since agriculture was the major livelihood of Filipinos, the natives
were trained to use innovative approaches in farming.
○ To construct buildings, churches, bridges, roads and forts engineering
was introduced and developed as well.
○ This is why agriculture and industrial developments were during the
latter part of the Spanish era . Instead, trade was prioritized due to
possible bigger profits.
● When the Americans came:
○ Institutions for science and technology were recognized as well.
○ For example, the former Laboratorio Municipal was replaced by the
Bureau of Government Laboratories under the United states'
department of interior. The Bureau was established for the purpose of
studying tropical diseases and pursuing other related research projects.
○ Eventually in 1905, the Bureau was changed to the Bureau of Science,
which became the main research center for the philippines.

● In 1933:
○ The national research council of the Philippines was established.
○ Developments in science and technology during the American regime
were focused in agriculture, medicine and pharmacy, food processing
and forestry.

● In 1946:
○ The bureau of science was replaced by the institute of science.

● During the time of former President Ferdinand Marcos :

○ The role of science and technology in national development was
emphasized.
○ He mandated the Department of Education and Culture now known as
the Department of Education (DepEd) to promote science courses in
public high schools.
○ An additional budget for research projects in applied sciences and
science education was granted by marcos.
○ A big chunk of the war damage fund from the Japanese was donated
to private universities in colleges for the creation of science and
technology related-courses and to promote research.
○ The 35 hectare lot in Bicutan, Taguig was proclaimed in 1968 as the
Philippine Science Community, now the site of the Department Of
Science and Technology (DOST).
 ○ Seminars, workshops, training programs and scholarships on fisheries
and oceanography were also sponsored by the government during
Marcos' presidency.
○ The Philippine coconut research institute (PHILCORIN) was tasked to
promote the modernization of the coconut industry.
○ Several agencies and organizations where then established:
■ Philippine Textile Research Institute
■ Philippine atomic energy commission (now the Philippine
Nuclear Institute)
■ National Grains Authority (now the National Food Authority)
■ Philippine Council for Agricultural Research (now the
Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural
Resources Research and Development)
■ Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical
Services Administration (PAGASA)
■ Philippine National Oil Company
■ Plant Breeding Institute
■ International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)
■ Bureau of Plant Industry
■ Bureau of Forest Products
■ National Committee on Geological Sciences

○ The National Science Development Board (NSDB) was reorganized

as the National Science and Technology Authority (NSTA) in 1981.
○ In 1976, Marcos established the national academy of science and
technology (NAST) to be the reservoir of scientific and technological
enterprise in the country.
○ Salary increases for teachers and administrators at the Philippine
Science High School were granted and the mindanao and visayas
campuses of the Philippine Science High School were established
during Marcos' time.

● In 1986, under President Corazon Aquino:

 ○ NSTA was renamed the DOST. This was done in order for the science
and technology sector to be represented in the cabinet and thus play an
integral role in the country's sustainable economic recovery and
growth. The science and technology master plan penned by DOST
aims to update the production sector, improve research activities and
develop infrastructures for the science and technology sector.

● In 1987 during the Presidency of Fidel Ramos:

○ The Philippines had approximately 3,000 competent scientists and
engineers.
○ The "Doctors to the Barrio"program made healthcare accessible even
in the far-flung areas in the country.
○ Incentives were given to the people who played significant roles in the
science and technology sector.
○ The National Program of Gifted Filipino children in science and
technology was created for high school students who wanted to major
in science and engineering in college.
○ It was also during Ramon's term that the number of loss and statutes
related to the science and technology sector where mandated such as
RA 8439: Magna Carta for Scientist Engineers, Researchers and other
Science and Technology personnel in government; RA 7687: Science
and Technology Scholarship Act of 1994; RA 7459: Inventors and
Inventions incentives act; and RA 8293: The Intellectual Property
Code of the Philippines.

● During the term of President Joseph Estrada:

○ RA 8749: the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999 and RA 8792:
Electronic Commerce act of 2000 were both signed and mandated
during the term of President Estrada.
○ He was also responsible for implementing cost effective irrigation
technologies in providing basic health care services for those who
could not afford them.

● During the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo:

 ○ The science and technology sector was developed to strengthen the
education system and to address poverty. The term Filipinnovation
was coined to refer to the Philippines as an innovation hub in asia.
○ Arroyo also promulgated RA 9367: Biofuels Act, to utilize indigenous
materials as sources of energy. However, the act was not able to
produce positive outcomes because of the lack of technology to source
new materials.
○ It was also in Arroyo's term that farmers were encouraged to use rice
that can withstand environmental hazards. RA 10601: Agriculture and
Fisheries Mechanization (AFMech) Law was also passed to
modernize agricultural and fisheries machinery and equipment.

● In 2014 President Benigno Aquino III:

○ Named the new National Scientist, namely, Gavino C. Trono, for
Marine Biology, Angel C. Alcala, for Biological Science, Ramon C.
Barba, for Horticulture and Edgardo D. Gomez, also for Marine
Biology

● Today in the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte:

○ The science and technology sector is seen to be a priority based on the
budget for research and development (R&D) that grew by nearly six
times over the same period.
○ Formulation of programs and policies that will aid in shaping the
country is backed up by President Duterte. The focus of DOST is to
put the results of R&D and commercialization in order to gain you
intellectual properties.
○ Currently, the Philippines has the Philippines Space Technology
Program which launched the Diwata 2 in 2018 after the launch of
Diwata 1 in 2016 that displayed the Philippine flag in space.
○ Besides space technology, the current administration also gives
importance to agriculture and disaster preparedness.

Science and Technology in the Philippines and the Environment

● Science and technology have numerous contributions to society.
○ The mechanization of farming, for instance, is necessary for
agriculture being the number one source of food production.
Agricultural development needs to cope with the rapidly and
exponentially growing population.
■ Tools such as water pumps and sprinklers help in managing the
damaging effects of extreme heat caused by climate change and
crops.
■ Science and technology have also made it possible to produce
genetically modified crops which grow faster and more resistant
to pests.
■ Fertilizers that increase nutrients in the soil enhances the
growth of the crops and produce high quality yields. However,
many researchers show that genetically modified crops and
fertilizers made from strong chemicals are not
environmentally-friendly.
○ Science and technology has improved transportation by land, air and
sea.
○ Communication is also improved technologically.
○ With the internet and the rise of social media, information is
transferred easily and rapidly. through technological developments
ways of learning also changed.
○ Learning management systems used in education are now accessible
through computers, mobile phones, tablets and other gadgets.
○ Online learning has also become popular in various disciplines like
mathematics, physics, biology, geography, economics and others.

● These contributions of science and technology, however, always come with

adverse impacts especially in the environment.
○ The increasing number of new and advanced technologies in the
production and manufacture of different goods and services results in
depletion of the earth's natural resources.
○ Waste is also generated as these technologies are developed.
○ People have also become too dependent on science and technology,
making them disregard its consequences that may be damaging to the
environment.